Conducting polymers and their inorganic composites for advanced Li-ion batteries: a review

Abstract

Conducting polymers are promising materials for organic–inorganic hybrid composites in lithium-ion batteries due to their electrical conductivity and high coulombic efficiency and are able to be cycled hundreds or thousands of times with only slight degradation. Inorganic compounds generally possess good lithium storage properties but lack the conductivity and cyclability required for commercial application. Therefore, these problems need to be overcome before they can be used as effective electrodes. Over the past few years, conductive polymers in combination with inorganic compounds have attracted great interest as promising matrices for the construction of lithium-ion batteries. Because conducting polymers can interact synergistically with inorganic compounds, noteworthy improvements in electrode lifetime, rate capabilities, and voltage, as well as mechanical and thermal stability, have been achieved. This review covers recent advances in synthetic methods and functions of conducting polymers in hybrid composites and their application in lithium-ion batteries. We then present a comparison of other synthetic methods for new research and development in batteries. A brief appraisal of avenues for future developments in this area is also presented.